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Comparing the Outcomes Between Rotator Cuff Repair With and Without Suprascapular Nerve Decompression

Will Routine Suprascapular Nerve Release During Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Improve Patient Outcomes?

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02107573
Enrollment
36
Registered
2014-04-08
Start date
2013-07-15
Completion date
2024-12-01
Last updated
2025-05-11

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Rotator Cuff Tear

Keywords

Randomized Controlled Trial, Rotator Cuff Tear, Suprascapular Nerve, Decompression, Shoulder Surgery

Brief summary

The purpose of the study is to compare the differences in outcome between the traditional rotator cuff repair surgery and rotator cuff repair with suprascapular nerve decompression surgery.

Detailed description

The suprascapular nerve is intimately related to the function and likely recovery of the rotator cuff musculature. Retracted rotator cuff tears have recently been shown to effect both the physical path in which the suprascapular nerve travels, as well as its physiologic function. This study will be a randomized control trial with long term follow up that will add to and elaborate on the positive outcomes reported in other trials. Patients that have a rotator cuff tears with greater than or equal to 1 cm of retraction that have failed conservative treatment and require operative repair will qualify for the study. They will be randomized into two arms: In one arm, patients will undergo suprascapular nerve release immediately after their rotator cuff repair; they will be compared to patients that have rotator cuff repair with no release of the nerve. Post operatively, at different time intervals, patients will be expected to fill out multiple standardized, well established surveys that assess the patients pain level and shoulder function.

Interventions

PROCEDURERotator Cuff Repair without Suprascapular Nerve decompression

Traditional rotator cuff repair without Suprascapular nerve decompression

PROCEDURERotator Cuff Repair with Suprascapular Nerve decompression

Traditional rotator cuff repair with Suprascapular nerve decompression

Sponsors

Endeavor Health
CollaboratorOTHER
University of Chicago
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Reparable full thickness supraspinatus and or infraspinatus rotator cuff tears regardless of retraction

Exclusion criteria

* Patients less than 18 years of age * Irreparable rotator cuff tears

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) Shoulder Scoreone yearThe scale measures pain from 0 to 10 and also includes a questionnaire for assessing the activity of daily living.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Constant Shoulder Scoreone yearIt includes pain score, functional assessment, range of motion and strength measures

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026